Mom's Summer Ziti

Are you still looking for ways to use up your tomatoes? This is my favorite summertime meal ever! It's my mom's Summer Ziti, and it's fantastic. It absolutely must be made with fresh ingredients - home-grown is even better. You can't cheat and use store-bought tomatoes or bottled minced garlic - it's just not the same. This means, of course, that you can only enjoy this one in the summer, but that just makes you appreciate it even more.

We have been getting about 2-3 yellow tomatoes every day, and my mother-in-law brought us a few from her garden as well, so tomatoes have been an ingredient in all our meals lately. I made this on Sunday, and for the first time, I think it actually came out just like my mom's. So yummy that I had to go back for thirds.

3 tbsp olive oil
6 large tomatoes, sliced thin
3 cloves garlic, minced
20 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 sweet green pepper, sliced thin
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups (8 oz) ziti, cooked
1 cup (4 oz) mozzarella, shredded or chopped
parmesan to taste

Combine first 6 ingredients in large casserole dish early in the day. Stir occasionally, do not refrigerate. At mealtime, add hot ziti and cheeses. Stir thoroughly & serve.

Yum!

*This delicious concoction will make your house smell wonderful all day long. Just add pasta and cheese and enjoy! Serve with breadsticks, maybe a salad if you want.